MELBOURNE — A corrections deputy lost his job after he had sex with a teen girl who was forced into prostitution, officials said.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said the case started when the girl’s mother told a school officer about sexual abuse. That led to the arrest of a 26-year-old man who met the girl on Snapchat and trafficked her for nearly two years.
Antonio Gilbert Granados of Melbourne faces charges of human trafficking, promoting a child’s sexual performance and having child sex videos. He was booked into jail with no bond.
Deputies also arrested Dashawn Willie Edward, 36, of Cocoa. He is a former corrections officer who worked for the sheriff’s office for 10 years. Edward faces a charge of unlawful sex with a minor. He was fired right away and held without bond.
Ivey said Granados groomed the girl, forced her to have sex with nearly 50 men and made videos of it. He threatened to share the videos if she did not obey. Granados later said he did not know she was underage.
The girl was scared to talk at first because she feared Granados, Ivey said. Deputies found him after he tried to overdose on pills. He got hospital care and then went to jail.
Investigators are looking at the videos and expect to arrest more men.
“To those other approximately 49 adult pieces of crap out there who harmed this innocent child … we’re coming for you,” Ivey said in a recorded message.
The sheriff called the girl’s experience unimaginable. Deputies ask anyone with information to call them.
